7 comments:

it's a spud barge, spuds being the legs that hold it in place, making it an idea platform for any work performed by the crane. they could be lowering pipe, for example. when the work is finished, a tug will attach and spuds will be raised (ie, the barge refloated) to wherever it's next needed.

They used one of these a few years ago to help dismantle an old SF Bay bridge that had been replaced.

And there's the same day shape that appeared on the survey boat in one of your earlier quizzes, I think its official meaning is, "It would take too long to explain what I'm doing, so just go around me."

It strikes me as rather odd that the barge is using the day shape for a "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" and not that for "vessel aground". I know that the definition of "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" includes survey vessels, but surely the barge is technically "aground" when the legs are down?

I actually didn't not know this was not odd without none of Mr. Google's help.

I have no idea what rules apply in the Thames estuary, but here is the relevant USCG rule 27 (vessel not under command):

A vessel engaged in dredging or underwater operations, when restricted in her ability to maneuver, shall exhibit the lights and shapes prescribed (ball, diamond, ball) and shall in addition ...when at anchor, the lights or shapes prescribed in this paragraph instead of the lights or shapes prescribed in Rule 30, for anchored vessels.

Wandsworth is not in what would normally be considered the Thames Estuary. I'm so sure I'm right on this that I almost wrote this sentence without Mr. Google's help.

But is this barge anchored or aground? Surely if the legs are down its weight is supported on the river bed, which sounds like the same as being aground to me. I actually wrote this whole paragraph without Mr. Google's help.

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